Hong Kong Government to Allow Transit of E-Cigarettes Overseas

Mar.22.2023
Hong Kong Government to Allow Transit of E-Cigarettes Overseas
HK government allows alternative smoking product export by air, sea, and land, with a new regulatory framework to prevent local distribution.

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on March 22 that on Friday, March 24, it will publish the draft amendment to the Import and Export (Amendment) Regulation 2023. This amendment will permit the transportation of alternative smoking products (including electronic cigarettes) to overseas markets via air, sea, and land routes that are connected through Hong Kong. The draft amendment will be submitted for legislative council review on Wednesday, March 29.


The Hong Kong government is set to establish a regulatory system that will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs, aimed at strengthening the regulation of cross-border transportation of alternative smoking products and reducing the risk of such products entering the local market.


A spokesperson from the Transport and Logistics Bureau stated today (March 22) that "due to the harmful nature of alternative smoking products, the government maintains its stance on prohibiting their entry into the local market. However, we have noticed that the prohibition of intermodal transportation of such products since April 30, 2022 has caused significant losses to Hong Kong's aviation cargo transportation industry. Therefore, we should exempt the intermodal transportation of such products through a new regulatory framework, while ensuring that they do not enter the local market.


The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council has expressed its welcome and support for the proposed regulations aimed at restoring the transportation of alternative smoking products from the Mainland, via Hong Kong International Airport, to overseas markets under a new regulatory system.


Sorry, I cannot complete this task as there is no text to translate. Please provide the text to be translated.


A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council expressed support for the government's efforts to safeguard public health. However, given the importance of transporting alternative smoking products to Hong Kong's logistics and air freight industries, members believe that it is equally important to quickly resume the transportation of these products.


As an AI language model, I am programmed to write in standard journalistic English. Please provide me with the text to translate.


The industry will fully cooperate with the government to implement the new regulatory system, which will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs, in order to enhance the regulation of the cross-border transportation of alternative smoking products. The spokesperson added.


The government has consulted the Economic Development Committee of the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, and the trade and logistics industry, and received widespread support for submitting a bill to the Legislative Council.


Reference:


Press Release


On Friday, the draft revision of the 2023 Import and Export Ordinance for Alternative Smoking Products was published in the Official Gazette. This includes amendments related to the transportation of such products.


The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council has endorsed the proposed legislative amendments for the 2023 Import and Export (Amendment) Bill relating to the transit of alternative smoking products.


Further reading:


The Hong Kong government has acknowledged that the ban on transporting electronic cigarettes has resulted in huge losses and will push for amendments to relevant laws in the Legislative Council.


Exclusive Interview with Cloud Pu Jiahang: Hong Kong and Shenzhen may cooperate to establish a pre-clearance facility.


If the ban on transporting electronic cigarettes is lifted, should one choose Hong Kong or Shenzhen?


Hong Kong to resume e-cigarette distribution via sea and air transport only in early 2023.


Special Notice: 1. The content of this article is taken from documents such as "2023 Import and Export (Revised) Regulations" and should be referenced in their original form. 2. This article is intended for industry communication and exploration only and is not meant to promote or recommend any specific brand or product. 3. Smoking is harmful to health. Minors are prohibited from reading this article. 4. This article is an original piece by Shenzhen 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd. and its copyright and usage rights belong to the company. No unit or individual is authorized to copy, reprint, or use this article in any other way without permission. Violators will be subject to legal liability and the company reserves the right to pursue such action.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

FDA Grants PMTA Authorization to 11 ZYN ULTRA Nicotine Pouches, Bringing Total Authorized Pouches to 43
FDA Grants PMTA Authorization to 11 ZYN ULTRA Nicotine Pouches, Bringing Total Authorized Pouches to 43
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized 11 ZYN ULTRA nicotine pouch products made by Swedish Match USA through the premarket tobacco product application pathway on August 21, 2026. Ten of the authorized products have a labeled nicotine content of 9 mg, while ZYN ULTRA Smooth was authorized at 11 mg. The reviews were conducted through FDA’s nicotine pouch PMTA pilot program. FDA has now authorized 43 nicotine pouch products, including 23 through the pilot.
Aug.24
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.
Sep.01
South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores
South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores
BAT Rothmans says it previously considered exiting South Korea's vaping market because of competitive pressure from unregulated products, but is now reassessing conditions following changes to the country's nicotine regulatory framework. Vuse and other BAT vaping products remain available through existing distribution channels. The statement followed a South Korean media report that interpreted BAT's broader withdrawal from selected Vapour markets as a full exit from South Korea. Meanwhile, Philip Morris International launched VEEV inPRIME in the country in June and began expanding distribution to around 14,000 convenience stores and other retail channels in July. The contrasting moves highlight differing investment strategies as South Korea's regulated vaping market evolves.
Aug.14
California Lawmakers Pass Disposable Nicotine Vape Ban, With Sales Prohibition Set for 2028
California Lawmakers Pass Disposable Nicotine Vape Ban, With Sales Prohibition Set for 2028
According to CBS Los Angeles on August 27, 2026, California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 762, which would phase out disposable, battery-embedded nicotine vapes in the state. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, manufacturing and importation of the covered products would be prohibited beginning January 1, 2027, followed by a sales ban on January 1, 2028. Driven primarily by concerns over electronic waste, lithium-battery fires and environmental pollution, the legislation would further shift California’s legal vape market toward rechargeable, refillable or replaceable-pod devices.
Aug.28
Product | JT Launches Ploom AURA Glacier White in Japan, Expanding the Device Ecosystem Through Color and Accessories
Product | JT Launches Ploom AURA Glacier White in Japan, Expanding the Device Ecosystem Through Color and Accessories
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) has introduced the Ploom AURA Glacier White heated tobacco device in Japan, adding a new color option to the existing Ploom AURA lineup. The device maintains the existing SMART HEATFLOW technology and HEAT SELECT SYSTEM with four heating modes, while expanding the ecosystem through new accessories including front panels, back covers, a car holder and wireless charging covers. The product entered pre-sale in Japan on June 30, 2026, followed by broader retail availability from July 7.
Aug.03
Ohio Supreme Court Weighs Whether State Consumer Law Can Restrict Flavored Vape Sales
Ohio Supreme Court Weighs Whether State Consumer Law Can Restrict Flavored Vape Sales
The Ohio Supreme Court is hearing a case involving flavored vape sales and whether state authorities can use consumer protection laws to take action against retailers selling unauthorized vape products. Ohio officials argue that selling unauthorized flavored vapes may constitute consumer deception, while retailers argue that tobacco product regulation falls under federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority and that states cannot impose additional restrictions through consumer laws. The case could affect the scope of state-level vape regulation across the United States.
Aug.06